Surin: The Surin Provincial Public Health Officer confirmed that the foul odor in the area will not affect public health and urged people not to panic. Meanwhile, experts offer advice on how to spot drones and prevent confusion.
According to Thai News Agency, volunteer drone pilots have been demonstrating drone flights and advising the public on how to distinguish drones from other flying objects. This initiative comes after several reports of suspicious objects resembling drones were sighted over Surin Province, leading to numerous calls to the 1374 security hotline and causing public alarm.
In response, Surin Province has heightened its prevention, inspection, and arrest measures by collaborating with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office and private sector drone experts. These experts are working alongside military, police, and administrative officials to enforce the Royal Thai Army’s drone ban and reassure the province’s residents.
Volunteer drone pilots suggest that if a suspicious object is spotted in the sky, it should be checked for two flashing green and red lights, indicating it is likely a drone. Observers are encouraged to note the location, capture images or video, and promptly inform authorities.
Simultaneously, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers from the Border Patrol Police, Provincial Police, and the National Mine Action Center (TMAC) have been deployed in Phnom Dong Rak District. Their mission follows the discovery of 181 additional BM-21 artillery shells from Cambodia scattered in the area, including one unexploded shell buried in a rice field, which was subsequently neutralized for public safety.
A news team visiting a Thai border village near recent clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers reported a quiet scene, with evacuated homes and only Village Defense Volunteers (VDP) on watch. Despite online reports of deceased Cambodian soldiers causing a foul odor, the team detected no such smell.
Conversations with locals revealed awareness of media reports but no direct experience of the odor. They confirmed the presence of deceased soldiers, though at a considerable distance from the village. Despite not encountering the smell, residents remain vigilant, particularly at night when the sounds of barking dogs stir fears of the supernatural.
The Surin Provincial Public Health Officer reassured the public that the odor, while bothersome, poses no health threat. He confirmed no pandemic outbreaks in the region and advised maintaining hygiene, consuming clean food, and seeking medical help if unwell. He also cautioned against panic over fake news and urged residents to avoid conflict zones due to explosive risks, emphasizing that security concerns are paramount.